Veterans Day

11-09-2025Weekly ReflectionFr. Abraham Orapankal, Pastor

Dear OLP Family,

Why is the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica celebrated today? Because, this anniversary is ranked as a 'Feast' unlike the 'Memorial' of other Roman churches (St. Mary Major, St. Peter’s Basilica and St. Paul Outside the Wall). The dedication of a church is a feast for all its parishioners. St. John Lateran is, in a sense, the parish church of all Catholics, for it is the pope's parish, the cathedral church of the Bishop of Rome.

This church is the spiritual home of the people who are the Church. (For more info about this, see page 5 in the bulletin)

This Tuesday, November 11, is Veterans Day - an occasion to remind ourselves of the importance to honor all those who have risked life, limb and mind for their country, because freedom isn’t free. While joining the rest of the nation commemorating this day typically with military-themed ceremonies, we bring all of these heroes and heroines in prayer to God at all the Masses.

Last Sunday, we had a special Mass in memory of all those who passed away this year. We had about forty names that were read out. A small candle was lit for each of them. We acknowledge the sadness at their physical absence amongst us, and yet hope to be reunited with them as our faith teaches. At every funeral Mass I love to use the 1st Preface where it says: “Indeed for your faithful, life is changed not ended, and, when this earthly dwelling turns to dust, an eternal dwelling is made ready for them in heaven.” St. Paul warns us that we must not be ignorant concerning the dead, nor sorrowful, "even as others who have no hope ... For the Lord Himself shall come down from heaven ... and the dead who are in Christ shall rise.” (1 Thessalonians 4:13). Thus we hope for the resurrection of our bodies.

In one of his lighter moments, Benjamin Franklin (one of the most important Founding Fathers of the United States: author, political theorist, politician, printer, scientist, inventor, civic activist, and diplomat), penned his own epitaph. It seems he must have been influenced by Paul's teaching on the resurrection of the body. Here's what he wrote: The Body of B. Franklin, the former printer lies here, food for worms, like the cover of an old book: its contents torn out, and stripped of its lettering and gilding. But the work shall not be wholly lost: for it will, as he believed, appear once more in a new & more perfect edition, corrected and amended by its Author.

We continue remembering our dear departed ones during this month of November. Keeping the All Souls Day Envelopes on the Altar this month is a visible reminder of that. More importantly, let us reaffirm our belief in the resurrection and reunion with our dear ones because of the Risen Christ. We can joyfully look forward to our own resurrected body which will be, in the words of Benjamin Franklin’s epitaph, “a new & more perfect condition, corrected and amended by its Author.”

Your brother in Christ.